Blessing of Holy Water and Salt

From old Roman Ritual

Materials: Procedure:
Salt Say each part of the ritual over the indicated element
Water Mix the elements together
Container for both together Say the Closing Prayer

Blessing of the Salt

Priest: I command you in the name of the living +, true +, and holy God +, of God who ordered
you to be cast into the water by the Prophet Elisha, thus to make the stagnant water
drinkable. May you be salt free henseforth from all evil, ministering to the wellbeing of
all who believe. May you give health of mind and body to all who partake of you; and
from any place where you are sprinkled may all evil fantasies depart, and all wickedness,
and all the cunning scheming of Satan. May evil spirit flee away, at the command of
Him who is coming to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire. Amen.

Priest: Let us pray.

Priest: We humbly beg of your unbounded clemency, almighty and eternal God, in your
goodness to bless this salt, which you have created and given to human beings for their
use. Let it bring health of mind and body to all who partake of it. Let no uncleanliness
not any onslaught of the powers of evil come near anything that shall have been touched
or sprinkled with it. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessing of the Water

Priest: I command you in the name of God the Father almighty +, in the name of Jesus Christ
His Son our Lord +, and in the power of the Holy Spirit +. Be water now no longer in the
power of our enemy, but availing rather to put all his power to flight, to dislodge that
enemy, with all his rebel angels, and to rid the earth of them; through the power of Jesus
Christ our Lord who is coming to judge the living and the dead and the world by fire.
Amen.

Priest: Let us pray.

Priest: O God, who bringing salvation to mankind made water the foundation of the great
symbolic rites, give kindly ear to our prayer. Pour the strength of Your blessing into this
element, many times purified to receive it. May this your creation be your servant now in
religious rites. May it have henceforth the power, which divine grace can give it, to drive
out demons and to ward off diseases; so that in the homes of the faithful and wherever the
faithful may be, all that this water touches may be unsullied and wholesome. May no
breath of contagion linger there, no taint of corruption. May the snares of the lurking
enemy fall asunder. And if anything threatens the safety or the peace of those who dwell
there, may it be banished by the sprinkling of this water. Thus may that wellbeing, which
they sought when they called upon Your holy name, be shielded from every assault.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Closing Text

Priest: May this salt and this water mingle and blend together, in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Priest: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Priest: Let us pray.

Priest: O God, whose power is unconquerable, whose empire will never be overthrown, whose
final victory will be great and glorious, You hold in check the powers opposed to You;
You bring the raging enemy to his knees and subdue with a mighty hand the wickedness
ranged against you. In awe of You, yet in need of Your help we ask of You Your favor,
begging of you to look kindly upon this mingled salt and water. Let your loving gaze
enliven it and freshen it, and your goodness like dew from Heaven sanctify it. Where it is
sprinkled and Your holy name invoked may unclean spirits cease from troubling us. Like
a venomous reptile may the Devil be banished and terrify us no more. And wherever we
are who ask your mercy, may the Holy Spirit in His goodness be with us. Through Christ
our Lord, Amen.